TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS

Transcription

1 2018/2020 Edition

2 ORGANIZERS 1. CONFEDERATION OF NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL (Concacaf) President: Victor Montagliani General Secretary: Philippe Moggio Address: th Street, Suite 400 Miami Beach Florida USA Telephone: Telefax: Internet: 2

3 Contents GENERAL PROVISIONS NAME OF COMPETITION THE HOSTING MEMBER ASSOCIATION CONCACAF PARTICIPATING MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS ENTRIES FOR THE COMPETITION LAWS OF THE GAME COMPETITION WITHDRAWAL, UNPLAYED MATCHES AND ABANDONED MATCHES REPLACEMENTS ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS PLAYERS LISTS START LIST AND SUBSITITUES ON THE BENCH FORMAT AND STRUCTURE OF THE COMPETITION VENUES, KICK-OFF TIMES AND TRAINING SESSIONS VENUES, DATES, ARRIVALS AT THE VENUES AND OFFICIAL TEAM HOTELS STADIUM INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT TEAM EQUIPMENT FOOTBALLS FLAGS AND ANTHEMS

4 19. TICKETING TROPHY, AWARDS AND MEDALS REFEREEING DISCIPLINARY MATTERS Disciplinary Committee APPEALS COMMITTEE PROTESTS FINANCIAL PROVISIONS MEDICAL/DOPING COMMERCIAL RIGHTS MEDIA FINAL PROVISIONS LIABILITY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MATTERS NOT PROVIDED FOR AND FORCE MAJEURE LANGUAGES COPYRIGHT NO WAIVER ENFORCEMENT

5 GENERAL PROVISIONS 1. NAME OF COMPETITION 1.1. The Concacaf Girls U-15 Championship (hereinafter: The Competition ), is an official Concacaf National teams competition. The Competition shall be played between the years 2018 and 2020 and shall take place in the dates and venues the Concacaf Council determines. All Member Associations affiliated to Concacaf are invited to participate The Competition consists of One (1) stage: Girls U-15 Championship; 2. THE HOSTING MEMBER ASSOCIATION 2.1. The Hosting Member Associations (hereinafter: HMA) shall work with Concacaf to organize, promote, host and stage the matches in The Competition as well as the security for the duration thereof. Including and not limited to providing a final accounting for the tournament, including payment of the percentages due to Concacaf within thirty (30) days of the final match of The Competition The HMA shall be subject to the supervision and control by Concacaf, which has the final word on all matters relevant to The Competition. The decisions of Concacaf are final and binding and not subject to appeal Working relations between the HMA and Concacaf are regulated by the Host Responsibility Agreement (HRA), Team Participation Agreement (TPA) and Concacaf ( The Regulations ). The Regulations and all directives, decisions, guidelines and circulars issued by Concacaf shall be binding for all parties participating 5

6 and involved in the preparation, organization and hosting of the competition Any rights that are not ceded by these regulations to any participating Member Association or any other party previously in writing or by circular shall exclusively belong to Concacaf The responsibilities of the HMA shall include but not be limited to: Guaranteeing, planning and implementing law and order as well as safety and security in the stadium/venue and other relevant locations in conjunction with the local authorities. The FIFA and/or Concacaf Stadium Safety and Security Regulations shall apply as the minimum standards and guidelines to be used during the competition; Ensuring the presence of a sufficient number of ground staff and security stewards to guarantee safety of teams, Match Officials and spectators; Securing insurance policies in consultation with Concacaf to cover all risks relating to the organization of all home matches, in particular, adequate and broad liability insurance in respect to the stadiums, members of the HMA, employees, volunteers and any other persons involved in the organization of The Competition with the exception of the Visiting Team Delegation Members; Securing liability insurance against possible spectator accidents or deaths 2.6. The HMA shall discharge Concacaf from all responsibility and relinquish any claim against Concacaf and the members of its delegation for any damages resulting from any act or omission relating to the organization and course of The Competition 2.7. Stadium and Training Facilities Ensuring that both, the stadium 6

7 and training fields are in a condition suitable for a Concacaf Qualifier, based on discussions during site inspection, including but not limited to all of the equipment for the field, i.e. nets, goals, and corner flags, covered benches (if required) for the teams and fourth official which should be of a professional standard Liaisons Assigning a dedicated individual, for the duration of the event (arrival to departure), who shall be responsible for assisting in the coordination of local transportation, changes to hotel/meal arrangements, and baggage collection, and any other needs as they arise, for: each of the Participating Member Associations. Thereby the liaison must be fluent in the primary language of the country assigned; the game officials; match commissioners and commission representatives Media Appoint an individual who shall be responsible for media relations and advise Concacaf s Communications Department thirty (30) days in advance of the event, the name of the person together with his/her contact numbers (phone/cellular, phone/fax, address); BEFORE, DURING and AFTER the event, the person appointed will: Ensure that the media facilities are in the best possible condition; Assist the media in their general inquiries; Ensure that the team sheets with correct player name/number/position, etc. are available to the media in timely manner, prior to kick-off; Distribute to the media copies of the Media Guide or any other materials that will be supplied by Concacaf; Arrange for the installation of one dedicated phone line for Concacaf us Only for charge calls; Arrange for the installation of the phone lines for the radio broadcasters and the designation of radio booths for each right holder; 7

8 Assure that the stadium has wireless internet for the media throughout the stadium; Arrange and provide the meals for the media and photographers as approved by Concacaf Team Hospitality Local Transportation First class bus with air conditioning for 23 persons and luggage for service to and from: Airport Training sites Matches Accommodations (room and board, etc.) First class accommodations, pursuant to Concacaf s approval; Rooms for 23 persons in delegation. Also, provide tournament room rates in case extra members of the Member Association accompany their team; Meals for 23 persons. Also, provide rates per meal or daily cost in case of extra members of the Member Association accompany their team or teams exceed tournament budgets; Laundry Make facilities available or recommend facilities for the teams to do their laundry. Advise teams of cost prior to the tournament Visas for visiting teams will request handling from the Government agency responsible for VISAS to expedite request for teams and delegates as much as possible The HMA shall ensure that any decision taken by Concacaf or judicial bodies relating to its duties and responsibilities are 8

9 3. Concacaf enforced immediately The responsibilities of Concacaf include but are not limited to: Supervising general preparations and deciding on the structure and format of the competition; Setting the dates and approving the venues of the matches during The Competition Determining the match schedule and kick-off times for the competition; Choosing the official football for the Championship Only footballs abiding by the FIFA Quality Mark standard (FIFA Quality PRO, FIFA Quality, International Match Standard) will be approved; Approving the choice of the WADA-accredited laboratory that will carry out the doping analyses as proposed by the FIFA Anti-Doping Unit; Appointing Match Coordinators, Venue Coordinators, Match Commissioners, Technical Study Group, Referees, Referee Assessors, Disciplinary Committee Members and any other delegates (hereinafter: Match Officials) for the competition; Daily per-diem and international traveling expenses for the Concacaf Match Officials Replacing Member Associations (as seen fit by Concacaf) that have withdrawn from the competition; 9

10 Assessing protests and taking appropriate steps to verify their admissibility, with the exception of protests concerning the eligibility of players, which are dealt with by the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee; Collecting of team s information (i.e., team lists, rooming lists, menus, travel itineraries, visa information, uniform colors, etc.) Deciding cases of participating Member Associations failing to adhere to the time limits and/or the formal requirements for submitting the necessary documents; Dealing with cases of abandoned matches (as per the Laws of the Game) in accordance with these Regulations; Deciding on the rescheduling of matches due to extraordinary circumstances or force majeure; Disciplinary measures and communication of actions taken Daily assignment of officials for the matches providing practice balls to the teams upon arrival and match balls to the venue work with the host association to produce a stage to be used for the post-final match award presentation Dealing with any other aspect of The Competition that is not the responsibility of any other body under the terms of these Regulations The decisions taken by Concacaf are final and binding and not subject to appeal. 10

11 4. PARTICIPATING MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS 4.1. Each Participating Member Association (hereinafter: PMA) shall be responsible throughout The Competition for: The conduct of all players, coaches, managers, officials, media officers, representatives and guests of its delegation (hereinafter: Team Delegation Members), and of any person carrying out duties on its behalf throughout The Competition; Ensuring the provision of adequate insurance to cover its Team Delegation Members and any other persons carrying out duties on its behalf against all risks, including but not limited to health, injury, accident, disease and travel in consideration of the relevant rules or regulations; Covering all travel related expenses, for all matches, incurred by its Team Delegation Members to and from the host country, any cost in obtaining VISAS for their delegation and all tips for services rendered as appropriate at the hotels, airports, taxis, etc Covering the extended stay of any member from their delegation that goes beyond the date from elimination of the competition. Each PMA shall also be responsible to cover the costs of any additional member of their delegation above the number approved by Concacaf Applying in a timely manner for any required visas to the consulate or embassy of the Host Countries where their matches will be played and covering any costs associated with these visas; for this process, the assistance of the HMA is to be sought out as early as possible; Attending media conferences and other official media activities organized by Concacaf and/or by the HMA in accordance with the applicable regulations; 11

12 Ensuring that every member of its delegation or, where applicable, a duly appointed representative, completes the Concacaf Team Participation Agreement and signs the required documents; Ensuring that every member of its delegation complies with all applicable regulations (including The Regulations), directives, guidelines and circulars, decisions made by Concacaf and its Council, Referees Committee, Disciplinary Committee, Ethics Committee and Appeal Committee; Providing Concacaf with all the information and/or documentation requested within the stipulated deadlines. Member Associations that fail to provide Concacaf with all requested information and/or documentation within the stipulated deadlines shall be imposed a fine of $3,000 USD, except in unforeseen circumstances and cases of force majeure as determined by the Concacaf General Secretariat. The fine shall be increased by 50% for each time the offence is repeated Allowing Concacaf to use its Association Marks for the promotion of The Competition as stipulated in the Commercial Regulations governing each phase of The Competition, for the sole purpose of promoting The Competition Member Associations and their players and officials participating in The Competition shall agree to fully respect and comply with: The Laws of the Game and the principles of Fair Play; The Concacaf Statutes and all Concacaf regulations, rules, codes, protocols, circulars, directives, guidelines and decisions (including The Regulations); 12

13 All decisions and directives of the Concacaf Council; The FIFA Disciplinary Code and, upon its entry into force, the Concacaf Disciplinary Code; The Concacaf Code of Ethics and the Concacaf Code of Conduct; The FIFA Doping Control Regulations; All Concacaf protocols during matches and fully cooperate in their enforcement (e.g. Concacaf protocol for racist incidents during matches); All Concacaf anti-match manipulation and anti-racism stipulations; All Concacaf marketing and media requirements, as stipulated in the Commercial Regulations, including but not limited to, the Team Media Day in which individual and group photos and video will be taken of each team upon their arrival at the venue of their first match FIFA Regulations in relation to the eligibility of players Member Associations shall take all necessary actions for their players and officials to be bound by and comply with all the aforementioned statutes, regulations, rules, codes, protocols, circulars, directives, decisions, stipulations and requirements All PMA s shall indemnify, defend and hold Concacaf, the HMA, and all of their officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents, and all other auxiliary persons free and harmless against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, fines and expenses (including reasonable legal expenses) of whatsoever kind or nature resulting from, arising out of, or attributable to, any non-compliance with these Regulations by the PMA s, their Team Delegation Members, their affiliates and any 13

14 third parties contracted to the PMA. 5. ENTRIES FOR THE COMPETITION 5.1. The National Girls team of all Member Associations affiliated to Concacaf have the right to participate. Concacaf reserves the right to invite any Member Associations with a National Girls team affiliated to FIFA Each PMA is required to have in their Official Delegation the following roles listed below: Head Coach (Mandatory) Technical Director (Mandatory) Duly Licensed Medical Professional (Mandatory) 5.3. On entering The Competition; the PMA and their Team Delegation Members automatically undertake to: Participate and refer to their team as the best available team in all matches of The Competition in which their team is scheduled to take part; Accept Concacaf s right to use and/or Concacaf s right to sub-license the right to use on a non-exclusive basis, in perpetuity and free of any charge, any of their records, names, photographs and images (including any still and moving representation thereof), which may appear or be generated in connection with the participation of the Team Delegation Members of all PMA in The Competition in accordance with the relevant terms of the Concacaf Media and Marketing Regulations for The Competition (as applicable). To the extent that Concacaf s right to use and/or Concacaf s right to sub-license the right to use any of the records, names, photographs and images may fall in the ownership and/or control of a third party, the PMA s and their Team Delegation Members shall ensure that such third party waives, pledges and unconditionally 14

15 assigns and/or transfers to Concacaf with immediate effect, with full title guarantee in perpetuity and without any restriction, any such rights to ensure Concacaf s unfettered use as set out above; Observe the principles of fair play. Subject to any other decision by the Concacaf Council, the Member Associations shall complete and send the official Team Participation Agreement to the Concacaf General Secretariat in accordance with the deadline stipulated in the relevant Concacaf circular. Only the Team Participating Agreements sent to the Concacaf General Secretariat by the deadline set shall be valid and taken into consideration unless approved in writing by Concacaf 6. LAWS OF THE GAME 6.1. All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game in force at the time of The Competition and as laid down by the International Football Association Board. In the case of any discrepancy in the interpretation of the Laws of the Game, the English version shall be authoritative Each match shall last 70 minutes, comprising two periods of 35 minutes, with a half-time interval of 10 minutes If, in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, extra time is to be played as the result of a draw at the end of normal playing time, it shall always consist of two periods of 10 minutes each, with an interval of five minutes at the end of normal playing time, but with no interval between the two periods of extra time If the score is still level after extra time, penalty kicks shall be taken to determine the winner in accordance with the procedure described in the IFAB Laws of the Game published by FIFA. 15

16 COMPETITION 7. WITHDRAWAL, UNPLAYED MATCHES AND ABANDONED MATCHES 7.1. After the participation agreement is signed, all PMA s have the obligation to play all of their matches until eliminated from the competition Any PMA that withdraws before the competition is liable to a fine of at least USD $10,000. Any PMA that withdraws after the start of The Competition is liable to a fine of at least USD $20, Depending on the circumstances of the withdrawal, the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee may impose sanctions in addition to those provided for in par. 7.2above, including the expulsion of the Member Association concerned from subsequent Concacaf competitions Any match which is not played or which is abandoned except in cases of force majeure recognized by Concacaf may lead to the imposition of sanctions against the relevant Member Associations by the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code and upon its entry into force, the Concacaf Disciplinary Code. In such cases, the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee may also order that the match be replayed Any PMA that withdraws or whose behavior is liable for a match not being played or being abandoned may be ordered to reimburse Concacaf, the opposing team, or any other PMA involved, any expenses incurred as a result of its behavior. In such cases, the Member Association concerned may also be ordered by Concacaf to pay compensation for any damages incurred by Concacaf or any other Member Association. The PMA in question will also forfeit any claim to financial remuneration from Concacaf. 16

17 7.6. If a PMA withdraws or a match cannot be played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, Concacaf shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary. If a match is not played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, Concacaf may in particular, order a replay. If the circumstances of withdrawal are sufficiently serious, the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee may also take additional actions if necessary If a team does not report for a match, except in cases of force majeure, or refuses to continue to play, or leaves the pitch before the end of the match, the mentioned team shall be considered to have lost the match 3-0 and three points shall be awarded to its opponent. If in the case of an abandoned match, the winning team had already reached a higher score at the time the team in question left the field, then the higher score shall remain. The Concacaf Disciplinary Committee will decide if a team that has withdrawn will be excluded from further participation in The Competition and the results of those matches shall be considered to have lost them by a result of 3-0 and three points shall be awarded to those opponents. The results of any matches played before by the team in question, those results will remain as the final result of the match Further to the above provision, in the case of a match being abandoned as a result of force majeure after it has already kicked off, the following principles will apply: The match shall recommence at the minute at which play was interrupted rather than being replayed in full and with the same score line; The match shall recommence with the same players on the pitch and substitutes available as when the match was abandoned; No additional substitutes may be added to the list of 17

18 players on the team sheet; The teams can make only the number of substitutions to which they were still entitled when the match was abandoned; Players sent off during the abandoned match cannot be replaced; Any sanctions imposed before the match was abandoned remain valid for the remainder of the match; The match shall restart at the place where play was stopped when the match was abandoned (i.e. with a free kick, throw-in, goal kick, corner kick, penalty kick, etc.). If the match was abandoned while the ball was still in play, it shall restart with a dropped ball from the position of the ball when play was stopped The kick-off time, date (which shall be foreseen for the following day) and location shall be decided by Concacaf Any matters requiring a further decision shall be handled by Concacaf. 8. REPLACEMENTS 8.1. If any PMA withdraws or is excluded from The Competition, the Concacaf Council shall decide whether to replace or not the Member Association in question with another Member Association. 9. ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS 9.1. Each PMA must ensure the following, when selecting its representative team, for The Competition: Each participating Member Association shall select its 18

19 national representative team from players who are nationals of its country and under its jurisdiction and who satisfy the age requirement, born on January 1 st, 2003 and thereafter all players shall hold the nationality of its country and be subject to its jurisdiction; All players shall be eligible for selection in accordance with the FIFA Statutes, the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes and other relevant FIFA rules and regulations Protests regarding the eligibility of players shall be decided by the Concacaf Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code and upon its entry into force, the Concacaf Disciplinary Code The Member Associations shall be responsible for fielding only eligible players. Failure to do so shall lead to the consequences stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code and upon its entry into force the Concacaf Disciplinary Code If Concacaf believes a player s eligibility is in question, Concacaf reserves the right to consider the said player ineligible to participate in any stage of The Competition until the player s eligibility status is confirmed by Concacaf in accordance with the applicable regulations. 10. PLAYERS LISTS Each Member Association participating in The Competition must provide the Concacaf General Secretariat with a provisional list up to 35 players (4 must be goalkeepers) no later than 30 days prior to the start of The Competition, which Concacaf will provide specifics by way of a circular. This list shall reflect each player s last name, first name, date of birth and passport number as specifically noted in their International Passport. In addition to any 19

20 other information requested by Concacaf Each PMA participating in The Competition shall submit to the Concacaf General Secretariat its final list of up to 18 players (2 must be goalkeepers), no later than 10 days prior to the opening match, which Concacaf will provide specifics by a way of a circular. The Final List of Players must come from the previously submitted Provisional List which becomes binding 10 days prior to the opening match A player listed on the final list may only be replaced during The Competition in the event of serious injury up until 24 hours before the kick-off of his team s first match and must come from the preliminary list. Such replacements must be approved in writing by Concacaf or the Medical Committee upon receipt and acceptance of a written detailed medical assessment with doctor s stamp or valid letterhead in one of the four official Concacaf languages. Concacaf or the Medical Committee shall approve the request if the injury is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in The Competition. Upon approval, the association shall immediately nominate a replacement and inform the Concacaf general secretariat accordingly. The replacement player must be assigned the shirt number of the injured player being replaced The only document considered to be valid proof of a player s identity and nationality shall be a passport that explicitly states the player s day, month and year of birth. Identity cards or other supporting official documents shall not be accepted as a valid means of identification. The PMA s shall present each player s valid national passport for the country of the PMA to the Match Coordinator on the day before the match. A player without a valid passport shall not be entitled to play Concacaf reserves the right to request additional information from the player to confirm eligibility, such as birth certificate from the player, his parents or grandparents. 20

21 11. START LIST AND SUBSITITUES ON THE BENCH Up to 18 players may be entered on the start list (11 starters and 7 substitutes). The start list shall be signed by the head coach or team manager. All seven players may be substituted at any time during the match. In order to avoid multiple stoppages of the game and assure maximum playing time, teams will be permitted a maximum of three (3) stoppages in play to make their (7) substitutions. Substitutions made at half time won t be consider one of the three stoppages in play All players must participate a minimum total of 60 minutes of playing time throughout the entire duration of their participation in The Competition. These minutes do not have to be all at once and can be divided up in between the different matches The numbers on the players shirts must correspond with the numbers indicated on the start list (numbers 1-18 only). All goalkeepers and the captain must be identified as such, number 1 shirt must be reserved for one of the goalkeepers Both teams must arrive to the stadium at latest 80 minutes prior to kick-off and return their start list to the Match Coordinator at the latest 90 minutes before kick-off. Both teams will receive a copy of the start list 70 minutes prior to kick off After the start lists have been completed, signed by the head coach and return to the Match Coordinator and if the match has not yet kicked off, the following instructions apply: If any of the starting 11 players listed on the start list are not able to start the match for any reason, they may be replaced by any of the 7 substitutes. The replaced player(s) may no longer take part in the match, and the quota of substitute players shall be reduced accordingly. During the match, the remaining players may still be substituted. 21

22 If any of the 7 substitutes listed on the start list are not able to be fielded for any reason, the player(s) concerned may not be replaced on the bench by an additional player, which means that the quota of substitutes shall be reduced accordingly. During the match, the remaining players may still be substituted Although no longer eligible to play as a substitute, the injured or ill player who was removed from the start list may be seated on the substitutes bench, and if so, would then also be eligible for doping control selection No more than 12 people (5 officials and 7 substitutes) shall be allowed to sit on the substitutes bench. The names of these officials must be indicated on the Officials on the Substitutes Bench form to be provided to the Concacaf Match Coordinator. A suspended player or official will not be allowed in The Competitions area (i.e. locker room and/or tunnel), field of play and sit on the substitutes bench The use of any electronic communication equipment and/or systems between and/or amongst players and/or technical staff is not permitted with the exception of medical matters The Host Member Association (HMA) shall issue each of the official Team Delegation Members with an accreditation during The Competition. In addition, the HMA shall provide a certain number of Supplementary Accreditation Devises (SADs), where applicable, to each team in order to control and restrict access to the dressing rooms and field of play on match days. Further details will be given to the teams by means of a circular letter Injured players who are replaced up until 24 hours before the kickoff of their team s first match must return their accreditation to Concacaf. Accordingly, players who have returned their accreditation shall no longer be considered members of the Official Team Delegation list. 22

23 The PMA s shall ensure that all accreditation data required by Concacaf is submitted by the deadline stipulated by Concacaf. Further details including SADs, accreditations, and other particular items will be outlined in the relevant Concacaf circular letter. 12. FORMAT AND STRUCTURE OF THE COMPETITION Concacaf retains the right to determine the structure, format of play and match calendar for The Competition The Competition Group Phase will be played in a format dividing the PMAs into three (3) divisions (Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 The competition Group Phase will commence in 2018 and the distribution of PMAs per group will be determined based on the results of the previous editions starting from 2016 and working back ; for any future editions of the competition, there will be a promotion and relegation system where the bottom two (2) teams from the groups in divisions 1 & 2 will be relegated to divisions 2 & 3 correspondingly and the champion and runner-up teams from divisions 2 & 3 will be promoted to divisions 1 and 2 correspondingly U15 Girls Championship Division 1: The division 1 will be composed by eight (8) PMAs. These 8 PMAs will be slotted into two (2) groups of four (4) teams each U15 Girls Championship Division 2: The division 2 will be composed by sixteen (16) PMAs. These 16 PMAs will be slotted into four (4) groups of four (4) teams each U15 Girls Championship Division 3: The division 3 will be composed by eight (8) PMAs. These 8 PMAs will be slotted into two (2) groups of four (4) teams each The matches in The Competition will be played in a round robin 23

24 format, each team playing one match against each of the other teams in the same group, with three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a draw and none points for a defeat At the conclusion of The Competition, PMAs shall be ranked in each group according to the following criteria: greatest number of points obtained in all matches; Goal difference in all group matches; Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. If two (2) or more teams are equal on the basis of the above criteria, their rankings shall be determined as follows: greater number of points scored in matches between the tied teams; greater goal difference in matches between the tied teams (if more than two teams finish equal on points); Greater number of goals scored in matches among the tied teams (if more than two teams finish equal on points); The lowest number of points based on the number of yellow and red cards in all group matches is considered according to the following additions: first yellow card: plus 1 point second yellow card/indirect red card: plus 3 points direct red card: plus 4 points yellow card and direct red card: plus 5 points; Drawing of lots by Concacaf 12.5 The dates of the matches shall be fixed by Concacaf The decisions of Concacaf on the structure and format of The 24

25 Competition are final. In the event of any withdrawals, Concacaf may change the structure and format in accordance with the provisions. 13 VENUES, KICK-OFF TIMES AND TRAINING SESSIONS The venue(s) of the matches shall be submitted to Concacaf and the matches may only be played in stadiums/venues that have been inspected and approved by Concacaf The venue of the match shall have sufficient high standard hotels to accommodate all teams, officials and Concacaf delegation If there is any doubt regarding the condition of the pitch once the visiting association has already left to play the match, the referee shall decide whether the pitch is playable or not. If the referee declares the pitch unplayable, the procedure to be followed is described in art The matches may be played in daylight or under floodlight. Matches played at night may be played only at venues where the floodlighting installations meet the minimum lighting requirements laid down by Concacaf, i.e. that the whole pitch shall be evenly lit, with a recommended lighting level of at least 1,000 lux or as specified per tournament. An emergency power generator must also be available which, in the event of a power failure, guarantees at least two-thirds of the aforementioned intensity of light for the whole pitch. Concacaf is entitled to grant exceptions All matches in The Competition must be identified, promoted and advertised matches in accordance with Concacaf s relevant Commercial, Media and Marketing Regulations and qualifying competition branding guidelines On matchdays, the teams must be entitled to warm up on the pitch before the match, weather and pitch condition permitting. In principle, such warm-up will be 30 minutes in length. If the pitch is not in good condition or the warm-up would negatively affect the 25

26 state of the pitch for the match, Concacaf may limit the area on the field of play for the warm-up or shorten or cancel the warmup session. 14. VENUES, DATES, ARRIVALS AT THE VENUES AND OFFICIAL TEAM HOTELS 14.1 Concacaf retains the right to set the match dates and confirm the venues of all matches in The Competition The PMA shall arrange for their representative teams to arrive at the group venue of The Competition no later than 2 days before the first match of The Competition is due to be played. Concacaf and the host Association shall be informed of the travel itinerary of the visiting Association no later than 10 days prior to each match at 18:00 EST and the visiting Associations shall have made provisions for obtaining the visas, if applicable During The Competition, only official team hotels under contract with Concacaf or Concacaf s designated service company shall be used for the teams accommodation. Concacaf will provide further details about accommodation policies, and in particular about the use of venue-specific team hotels, in a circular letter. 15. STADIUM INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT Concacaf must ensure that the stadiums and facilities in which the matches take place fulfill the requirements described in the Football Stadiums Technical Recommendations and Requirements publication and comply with the safety and security standards and other Concacaf and FIFA regulations, guidelines and instructions for international matches. The fields of play, accessory equipment and facilities must be in optimum condition and comply with the Laws of the Game and all other relevant regulations (including the international dimensions of the field per FIFA Laws of the Game). Each stadium/field must be equipped with a minimum of 2 white goal posts and white goal nets with 26

27 dark-colored support posts and a minimum of 2 spare goals, 2 spare nets and 4 spare corner flags located in close proximity to the field of play for contingency purposes Periodic safety checks for the benefit of spectators, players and officials must be carried out on the stadiums selected for matches in The Competition by the authorities responsible. If requested, the associations shall provide Concacaf with a copy of the relevant safety certificate, which shall not be more than one year old Only stadiums/venues that have been inspected and approved by Concacaf may be selected for The Competition Should a stadium/venue no longer comply with Concacaf standards, Concacaf may reject the selection of the stadium concerned. Brand-new stadiums are to be inspected prior to use; the application for the final inspection and subsequent use of the facilities must be filed with the confederation at least six (6) months prior to the match concerned. Refurbished or renovated stadiums are to be inspected prior to use; the application for the final inspection and the subsequent use of the facilities shall be filed with Concacaf at least four (4) months prior to the match concerned The field of play, shall be in optimum condition and comply with the Laws of the Game and all other relevant regulations If a stadium has a retractable roof, in consultation with the Match Coordinator referee and the two teams officials, must decide before the match whether the roof must be open or closed during the match. This decision must be announced at the match coordination meeting, although it may subsequently be modified prior to kick-off in the event of sudden and significant weather condition changes. If the match starts with the roof closed, it must remain closed for the entire match. If the match starts with the roof open and there is a serious deterioration in the weather conditions, the Match Coordinator and the referee have the authority to order its closure during the match, provided that the safety and security of all spectators, players and other stakeholders remain fully 27

28 guaranteed by the host association. In such an event, the roof shall remain closed until the end of the match Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces. Where artificial surfaces are used, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Program for Football Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation is given by Concacaf Each stadium shall have sufficient space for warm-up during the match, ideally behind the goals. A maximum of six (6) players shall warm up at the same time (with a maximum of one (1) officials without any balls). If there is not sufficient space behind the goals, each team shall warm up in the designated area beside their substitute bench. In this case, the maximum number of players will be determined by the Match Coordinator and the Referees and communicated in the Match Coordination Meeting (One (1) official per team will be allowed in the warm up area without any balls) Clocks in the stadium showing the length of time played may run during the match, provided that they are stopped at the end of normal playing time in each half, i.e. after 35 and 70 minutes respectively. This stipulation shall also apply if extra time is played (i.e. after 10 minutes of each half). The half-time interval shall be 10 minutes At the end of the two periods of normal playing time (35 and 70 minutes), the referee must indicate to the fourth official, either orally or by gesturing with his hands, the number of minutes that he has decided to allow for time lost. This also applies to the two periods of 10 minutes of extra time Panel or electronic display boards, numbered on both sides for clarity, must be used to indicate the substitution of players and the number of minutes to be allowed for time lost The use of giant screens must be in compliance with the relevant 28

29 Concacaf instructions Smoking is not permitted in the technical area or in the vicinity of the field of play or within competition areas such as the dressing rooms The stadiums must be made available to Concacaf for its exclusive use and must be free of any and all commercial activities and identifications not previously approved by Concacaf, e.g. boards and signage other than those of Concacaf s Commercial Affiliates, from at least five (5) days prior to the match and up to two (2) days after the match. 16. TEAM EQUIPMENT The participating member associations shall comply with the FIFA Equipment Regulations in force. The display of political, religious or personal messages or slogans in any language or form by players and officials on their playing or team kits, equipment (including kit bags, beverage containers, medical bags, etc.) or body is prohibited. The similar display of commercial messages and slogans in any language or form by players and officials is not allowed for the duration of their time at any official activity organized by Concacaf (including in the venues for official matches and official training sessions, as well as during official press conferences and mixed-zone activities) Each team shall provide Concacaf of a minimum of two different and contrasting colors (one predominately dark and one predominately light kit) for its official and reserve team kit (shirt, shorts, socks, all three goalkeeper s kits, gloves, caps, wristbands and headbands etc.). In addition, each team shall provide three contrasting colors for the goalkeepers. These three goalkeeper kits must be distinctly different and contrasting from each other as well as different and contrasting from the official and reserve team kits. The kits must be sent to Concacaf 30 days prior to their first match of The Competition for Concacaf approval. Only these colors may be worn at the matches. Any requests to change these 29

30 kits must be submitted to Concacaf for approval ten (10) days prior to the match in question Each team shall supply a set of goalkeeper shirts without names or numbers. These shirts will only be used in those special circumstances in which an outfield player must take the position of goalkeeper during a match. This extra set of goalkeeper shirts must be provided in the same three colors as the regular goalkeeper shirts Concacaf strives to assign each team their full official or reserve kits. However, in some cases this may not be possible. In these situations, one team will be assigned a predominantly dark kit and the other team will be assigned a predominantly light kit. Only uniforms approved and designated by Concacaf may be used for all matches. Concacaf reserves the right to make changes to these designations based on the contrast of the uniforms, any changes will be notified by Concacaf Each player shall wear a number between 1 and 18 (number 1 being reserved exclusively for one of the goalkeepers) in the front and back of his/her team shirt and on his/her playing shorts. The color of the numbers must contrast clearly with the main color of the shirts and shorts (light on dark or vice versa) and be legible from a distance for spectators in the stadium and television viewers in accordance with the FIFA equipment regulations. It is not compulsory for the name of the player to appear on his shirt Each player shall wear the number allotted to them on the final list in accordance with the Equipment Regulations. The player s last name or popular name (or abbreviation), which is optional for this competition, shall be affixed above the number on the back of the shirt and shall be clearly legible in accordance with the FIFA Equipment Regulations. The name on the shirt must bear a strong resemblance to the player s popular name as indicated on Concacaf s official list of players and in any other official Concacaf documentation. In case of doubt, Concacaf shall have the final decision regarding the name that appears on the shirt. 30

31 16.7. The official and reserve team kits and all goalkeeper kits (including the goalkeeper shirts without names and numbers) shall be taken to every match Only warm-up bibs provided by Concacaf may be used during official training sessions held at the stadium/venue and for the pre-match warm-up and the warm-up of substitute players during the match. 17. FOOTBALLS Concacaf must supply the footballs to be used in all matches of the competition Moreover, Concacaf must provide the visiting team with a total of 10 match balls that will only be used for training purposes. All teams keep the balls Concacaf must supply for each match a minimum of 5 match balls in good conditions that meet FIFA Quality Mark standard (FIFA Quality PRO, FIFA Quality, International Match Standard) 18. FLAGS AND ANTHEMS Flags from the PMAs will be hung in venue during the duration of the competition. 19. TICKETING The HMA is responsible for all match ticketing during the Competition and shall manage the ticketing operations in a manner that meets all applicable security and safety standards. It shall set aside a minimum of 100 Category A complimentary tickets any additional tickets to be fixed by mutual agreement and in writing of complimentary and purchasable tickets for the visiting association. At least five representatives from the visiting Association shall be seated in the VIP tribune. The visiting Association shall inform Concacaf and the HMA in writing no later 31

32 than 15 days before the match of the total number of tickets requested for the match. If there is failure to submit request before the deadline, the HMA will not be held responsible to grant additional request The HMA shall agree to provide to Concacaf, upon request and free of charge, the amount of complementary tickets and suites (where applicable) as stipulated in the Commercial Regulations ten business days prior any home match All ticket designs must be pre-approved by Concacaf. The Association must work with Concacaf to make sure their ticketing systems comply with this requirement and must inform Concacaf if there are any potential issues as soon as these are identified At least 5% of the total stadium capacity must be available exclusively for visiting supporters in a secured, segregated area of the stadium. Field-side seating is NOT permitted and all nonpermanently fixed seating must be approved by Concacaf Concacaf reserves the right to require terms and conditions to be included in the match tickets in addition to the terms and conditions by the HMA, during the Competition Concacaf is responsible for the entire ticketing operation for the Competition Each participating Member Association is entitled to receive complimentary tickets for the Competition. The number of complimentary tickets will be defined at a later date. 20. TROPHY, AWARDS AND MEDALS The winner of The Competition will be presented with the Championship Trophy (hereinafter: The Trophy) The winning team will be provided with the Trophy during a ceremony immediately following the final whistle. 32

33 20.2. Twenty-three (23) medals will be presented to the top two teams only in division 1, i.e. gold medals to the winners, silver medals to the runners-up Medals will be presented to each of the officials who officiate at the play- off for the final match of the Championship game in Division A fair play contest will be held during The Competition, for which Concacaf will draw up special regulations. Concacaf shall determine the ranking at the end of The Competition At the conclusion of The Competition, the following special awards will be presented: Fair Play trophy The Fair Play trophy will be presented to the team finishing first in the fair play contest. The applicable rules are in the fair play contest regulations. Golden Boot The Golden Boot will be awarded to the player who scored the most goals throughout the competition. If two or more players score the same number of goals, the number of assists (as determined by Concacaf) shall be decisive. If two or more players are still equal after taking into account the number of assists, the total minutes played in both competitions will be taken into account, with the player playing fewer minutes ranked first. Golden Ball The Golden Ball will be awarded to the best player throughout The Competition Golden Glove The Golden Glove will be awarded to the best goalkeeper throughout The Competition (as determined by Concacaf). 33

34 20.6. There are no official awards other than those listed above, unless otherwise decided by the Concacaf. 21. REFEREEING The referees, assistant referees and fourth officials (hereinafter referred to collectively as Match Officials) for The Competition shall be appointed for each match by the Concacaf Referee Committee. They shall be neutral. The decisions of the Concacaf Technical Advisory Committee are final and not subject to appeal The Match Officials shall receive their official refereeing kit and equipment from Concacaf. They shall wear and use only this kit and equipment on match days Match Officials shall be given the opportunity to use training facilities If the referee is prevented from carrying out his duties, such referee shall be replaced by the fourth official. If one of the assistant referees is prevented from carrying out his duties, such assistant referee shall be replaced by the fourth official or by the reserve assistant referee (when appointed) After each match, the referee shall complete and sign the official match report form., he/she shall hand it over to the Match Commissioner when applicable at the stadium/venue immediately after the match and to the Match Coordinator On the report form, the referee shall note all occurrences, such as misconduct of players leading to caution or expulsion, unsporting behavior by supporters and/or by officials or any other person acting on behalf of an Association at the match and any other incident happening before, during and after the match in as much detail as possible. DISCIPLINARY MATTERS 34